Automatic storage apparatus



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INVENTOR. gerome HLemelson United States Patent 3,519,151 AUTOMATIC STORAGE APPARATUS Jerome H. Lemelson, Metuchen, N.J., assignor to The Triax Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,532, which is a continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 219,357, Aug. 13, 1962, which is a continuationin-part of application Ser. No. 577,415, Apr. 10, 1956, now Patent No. 3,049,247, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of abandoned application Ser. No. 449,874, July 28, 1954. Divided and this application May 28, 1968, Ser. No. 732,710 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Jan. 28, 1981, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. B65g N06 US. Cl. 21416.4 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic storage apparatus comprising a storage rack having a plurality of storage volumes and a powered load carrier movable alongside the storage rack for depositing loads into and removing loads from the storage rack. The load carrier may include a horizontally movable conveyor portion, a vertically movable elevator portion mounted on the conveyor portion, and a generally horizontally extendible fixture mounted on the elevator and adapted for supporting a load and transferring the latter between the load carrier and the storage rack. Servo drive means for the load carrier are provided together with positional controls for deactivating the servo drive means when the load handling fixture is aligned with a selected storage volume, and a plurality of sequence controls are provided for controlling the servo drive means, for the transfer of a load from the load carrier to the storage rack and from the latter to the load carrier, together with means for actuating the selected sequence control.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 468,532, filed June 30, 1965 for Automatic Storage Apparatus, which in turn is a continuation of my co-pending application Ser No. 219, 357, filed Aug. 13, 1962 for Automatic Storage Apparatus (now abandoned) which in turn was a continuation-in-part application of US. Ser. No. 577,415, filed Apr. 10, 1956 and issued Aug. 14, 1962 as U.S. Pat. 3,049,247, which in turn was a continuation-in-part application of US. patent application Ser. No. 449,874, filed July 28, 1954 (now abandoned).

Apparatus for storing and automatically conveying from storage work-in-process and finished goods has been heretofore developed and generally comprises systems employing chutes or gravity conveyors having gates for the control of flow. Systems employing such apparatus have a number of inherent shortcomings and are limited to the storage of small, packaged or boxed goods which will not be damaged or break open when they are delivered down a chute. A further limitation of a chute delivery system results from the fact that conveyor chutes must be kept in constant attendance and are generally capable of being loaded only by manual or lift truck means.

Gravity feeding storage systems per se are not satisfactory for handling large, bulky and irregularly shaped objects or for the conveyance of a multitude of irregularly shaped, small objects. Such systems are also inflexible since the objects being stored and delivered must be capable of being stacked on the chute or conveyor in an orderly, tandem array one behind the other Without interlocking, or otherwise being retained together so that they may be counted and dispensed automatically and controlled in their movement whereby their motion may be stopped when a desired number has been dispensed.

The apparatus of this invention solves many of the above mentioned shortcomings of gravity chute storage systems and also provides improved automatically operating apparatus which may be used for simultaneously handling bulk material, work-in-process and finished goods and storing these on predetermined storage racks or chutes in a system not requiring manual attendance. The automatic storing apparatus of this invention also provides the function of retrieving or conveying out-ofstorage the articles or material carried thereby to storage. It may also be operated to coact with similar apparatus which retrieves articles stored thereby.

The automatic controls and conveying apparatus provided herein may be utilized to automatically transport a. variety of different objects, large or small, from any predetermined position therein. This is accomplished Without changing the attitude of the load so that pallets, racks or open boxes may be employed as means for temporarily holding a large number of objects or bulk material containers. As a result bulk materials may be rapidly transported from storage and automatically dumped or unloaded where needed. Whereas the chutes or conveyors of the mentioned conventional automatic gravity feed storage systems are each designed and shaped to handle a single type or shape of item, the system and apparatus presented herein are flexible in that the ap paratus is not limited to the transfer of any specific shape of item.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for the automatic storage and removal from storage of materials, work-in-process or finished goods.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for removing from storage a palletized load or the like and for transferring them to a conveyor without the need for different fixtures or materials handling devices particularly designed for the shape of the product or object stored.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic materials handling system for the automatic and unattended tranfer of objects or materials which are palletized or boxed and their storage in depth as well as in height.

It is another object of this invention to provide new and improved automatic conveying apparatus including a carrier for the automatic transfer of work or material in process or finished goods from a first position in a given volume to a second position therein including automatic means of loading said work thereon and discharging it therefrom.

Another object is to provide in combination with an automatic warehousing carrier which is employed to store and retrieve articles relative to storage racking, an automatic means for controlling a materials handling device projectable from said carrier and preventing its movement into a storage location already occupied by an article so as to prevent damage to both device and the article.

Another object is to provide an improved system for identifying articles or loads travelling on a conveyor and controlling the routing thereof through an automatic handling system by scanning predetermined areas of the articles.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an automatic storage or warehousing system employing multiple tiers of storage racks, belt conveyors and guided carriers movable to service said racks and conveyors;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a discharge station and part of a tier of racking. appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of a carrier and track employed in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1 with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one form of storage rack applicable to the carrier serviced appartus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a modified form of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a portion of a belt convcyor showing details of a pallet scanning and load transfer apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the out-flow conveyor of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a product discharge sequence;

FIG. 8A shows a modified carriage construction;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the control circuits and components for controlling the operation of the carrier illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 for moving loads into storage and removing selected loads from storage;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing further details of a control-recorder provided in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of a sequential electrical controller which, when energized, effects movement of portions of the carrier of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the act of transferring a load to a storage position thereopposite;

FIG. 11 is a vector diagram illustrating the movement of the work holding fixture of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 when controlled by the electrical components of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a dagram showing details of a sequential controller which when energized, effects movement of the carrier of FIGS. 3 and 4 to pick up a load positioned thereopposite;

FIG. 13 is a vector diagram illustrating the movement of the work holding fixture of the carrier apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 when controlled by the sequential controller of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing details of a sequential controller which when energized, effects movement of the carrier of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the act of discharging a load onto a belt conveyor;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a presettable predetermining controller for controlling the movement of the carrier of FIGS. 3 and 4 along its track;

FIG. 16- is a diagram of a presettable, predetermining controller for controlling the vertical movement of the work-holding fixture of the carrier of FIGS. 3 and 4 and prepositioning said fixture at a predetermined height for either picking up work in storage at said height or depositing work held thereby on the storage rack at said height;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing components of a typical code operated gate employed in the control system;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of part of a modified article transfer showing a track traveling carrier removing an article from storage;

FIG. 19 shows the carrier of FIG. 18 in position for disposing an article onto a moving conveyor; While FIG. 20 is a diagram of automatic control apparatus forming part of the system control of FIG. 9 and operative to effect the movement of the transfer apparatus of FIGS. 18 and 19 as shown and described therefor.

GENERAL SYSTEM ARRANGEMENT In a preferred form, the improved automatic storage system of my invention employs a plurality of conveyors for transferring palletized or boxed loads into selected volumes or storage positions in a storage area or warehouse. Products, work-in-process, boxed or palletized loads move on an in-fiow conveyor such as a continuously moving belt conveyor which travels adjacent the storage area. Means are provided for identifying said pallets or loads and transferring them to selected first temporary storage platforms or chutes, a plurality of which are provided adjacent the in-fiow conveyor at different locations.

Each temporary storage paltform is provided adjacent an aisle. A respective track travelling carrier services each aisle. Each carrier is power operated to permit it to pickup a load pallet fom the temporary storage platforms and travel with said load to a selected or predetremined position along the aisle. The carrier is controlled in its motion by electrical predetermining controllers and sequential controllers which are programmed or preset by signals dervied from either scanning code marks on the load or from a remote manual or automatic code generating means.

Situated on either or both sides of each aisle serviced by a carrier are storage racks or shelves which define different storage levels on each of which and at each storage location may be stored one or more of said conveyed loads. In the act of storing, a predetermining controller mounted on the carrier is programmed or preset by signals derived from scanning the product to be stored or from a remote control console. This controller is operative, once the carrier has picked up a load from the temporary discharge chute to control the carrier to travel a predetermined position along its track whereby it is in alignment with a predetermined storage position as defined by a particular shelf or tier of the storage racking and a predetermined distance along said track from said temporary storage chute. Determination by the controller of the distance travelled is effected by scanning markers or other means as the carrier travels, which results in the generation of pulses with predetermined movement of the carrier.

The said predetermining controller is also effective in controlling the vertical travel of a work handling fixture on the carrier which thereafter lifts the load to a predetermined storage level. At such a level a storage sequential controller is energized which controls further movement of the fixture in a path for effecting the transfer of the work held thereby onto the rack storage position thereopposite. The carrier is thereafter automatically operated to return to a homing position or controlled by means of a recorded command signal to either return to said temporary discharge conveyor or operate in a manner to remove an already stored load from its storage position and transfer it to said outgoing conveyor.

The carrier is thus controlled by a plurality of predetermining controllers which are preset by coded signals or command messages generated from a control console by manual or recorded input or by scanning the product or pallet containing the load. Said controllers are effective in prepositioning the carrier and the carrier work handling fixture in alignment with a predetermined storage position in the racking serviced thereby, which predetermining controllers are also effective in energizing a selected of a plurality of preset sequential controllers at the proper instant. Three of such preset sequential controllers are provided, one for controlling the motion of the fixture in the act of lifting and removing a load positioned thereopposite on either said temporary storage chute or on the storage racking, another for controlling the motion of the fixture in the act of depositioning a load held by the fixture in the storage racking and a third for discharging a load held by the fixture onto the out-going conveyors for transfer to shipping or a manufacturing area.

Elements of a typical automatic storage and dispensing system according to the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

STORAGE VOLUME A storage volume 20 is provided which may comprise, for example, an entire floor and the space thereabove,

a warehouse or an area located at the end of or adjacent to a production area. Situated within said storage volume is an orderly arrangement of storage means 23 comprising shelves, racking or tiers of roller conveyors on which palletized or boxed loads may be stored. These comprise, in the arrangement of FIG. 1, racking means 23 defining separate storage volumes in which boxed, packaged or palletized products may be automatically stored by materials handling apparatus accessible thereto on a trackway 22. The racking 23 is arranged so that the unit storage bays 21 extend in rows adjacent to corridors CN, CN-l, etc., which bays are tiered vertically and extend as many bays deep as said conveying apparatus will reach. For the purposes of simplifying this discussion, the direction parallel to the corridors C between bays will be referred to as the X direction, perpendicular thereto in a horizontal plane will be referred to as the Y direction and all vertical directions will be referred to as the Z direction. Thus any unit volume or bay may be referenced for purposes of special designation and control by an X, a Y and a Z coordinate.

TRANSFER CONVEYOR Extending along each corridor is a conveyor trackway CT. Riding on and adapted to travel said trackway is an individual self-propelled carrier and work holding fixture CA which comprises a monorail travelling conveyor having vertical trackway mounted thereon with a work holding fixture 37, adapted to vertically transfer the work to or from any individual storage bay 21. In FIG. 1 and in the system to be described, each conveyor trackway CT-1 CT2, CT-N is provided with a work holding fixture in the form of a self-propelled carrier CA1 CA-N. It is noted that the system of FIG. 1 may also be designed having known monorail switching devices for the transfer of any work holding fixtures or carrier CA from one to another of a network of such conveyor trackways.

FIG. 1 shows a first belt conveyor 24 running along one side of said storage area 20 in the Y direction for the continuous flow of palletized work into the storage area 20 and a second belt conveyor 25 extending in the Y direction at the other end of the corridors C which may be utilized for the flow of material deposited thereon by said carriers CA out of said storage area. It is noted that at least one of these continuously flowing belt conveyors 24, 25 may be utilized and positioned along any logical route in the system depending on the size, extent and design of the layout of the conveyor trackways CT. The belt conveyor 24, 25 may comprise any type of unidirectional continuous conveyor on which pallets, boXes or work, or products may travel. The work-in-process or finished goods will hereinafter be referred to as palletized work whether it be provided per se, boxed, or otherwise packaged or mounted on a fixture.

TRANSFER INTO STORAGE In the system illustrated, each pallet is provided with an optical identification means in the form of a card having markings which are scanned by photoelectric reading devices positioned adjacent the conveyors 24 and 25 for routing control. The photoelectric readers transmit signals derived by scanning each card as the pallet moves past to control transfer apparatus positioned in alignment with each storage aisle or corridor and to a transfer carrier CA adapted for travelling along said corridors to effect the routing and transfer of said pallet to a predetermined storage volume or storage bay. In order to handle a large number of pallets 26 when, for example, they are closely positioned on the incoming belt conveyor 24, one behind the other, a temporary storage area TS is provided at each corridor C into which pallets destined for storage in selected of the bays adjacent said corridor are selectively pushed or otherwise transferred from the incoming belt conveyor 24 and may be held thereon while awaiting further transfer by the carrier CA to a predetermined storage bay. The temporary storage area TS may be fed by a roller gravity chute or powered conveyor 27 which is so positioned that the pallets may be transferred off conveyor 24 by an electrical or air operated ram transfer device RA and will travel to the end of 27. A stop 28 is provided at the end of conveyor 27 so that the pallet at the end of its travel thereon is prepositioned to be picked up by said carrier CA. Then the endmost pallet on 27 is removed therefrom, the pallet immediately behind it will be moved by gravity or powered means on 27 to the end thereof Where it will be in a position to be next transferred when carrier CA returns thereto. Notation 28 refers to a stop at the end of 27.

The photoelectric scanning device SC is provided adjacent conveyor 24 in a position reltaive to the temporary storage conveyor 27 to permit it to function to scan and determine if a passing pallet is to be transferred to the associated corridor discharge conveyor, and to thereafter effect such transfer.

TRANSFER FROM STORAGE Removal of a pallet or product from a preselected storage bay in the system may be effected by remote selection means by the transmission of a control signal or command message to a receiver mounted on the work holding fixture or carrier CA where it is either stored or utilized immediately to control the motion of the carrier and the fixture forks to a position opposite a preselected bay or storage position. The command signal also controls further action of the forks in advancing, lifting and removing the pallet or product therefrom. The signals may be transmitted over the carrier power lines 32 or via short wave or radio means. By the use of conventional coded relay operated switches throughout the system, only a selected one of the total carrier receivers in the system will receive each command signal, pulse train or message transmitted on a common carrier or channel. Each command message or signal may be transmitted as a pulse train or code which may be utilized after receipt by a carrier to set-up in relay storage a sequential switching control means such as a plurality of predeterming counters which thereafter are effective in controlling the motion of the servo motors driving the carrier and forks by utilizing, for example, position indication feedback pulses derived from a limit switch or photoelectric cell mounted on the work holding carrier which becomes energized each time the carrier CA or forks pass a predetermined section of the trackway 22 or storage racking 23. In the control system to be described, a storage device in the form of a magnetic storage drum is utilized to store a plurality of control positional command signals at each carrier so that each may thereafter be reproduced in the order of receipt and may respectively be utilized to control the motion of the carrier in the act of storing or removing objects or material from the storage area 20 accessible by said carrier. Command signal storage may also be effected at the transmitter or master control which signals may [be sequentially reproduced and transmitted therefrom to each carrier for control. The stored message comprises a train of pulses including a first portion of the total signal which is effective in completing a circuit between the receiver at the selected carrier and said transmitter. A control message for effecting the removal of a selected product or pallet from a known positon in the storage area may also be generated by manual dial switching means, punch cards, or other means.

. A typical command signal or message may consist of a number of short pulse trains, each of which is adapted to effect control of the following movements by actuating controls and relays, and by presetting predetermining counters and controllers.

CONTROL MESSAGE COMPOSITION (a) The initial part of each message contains a specific tone signal or pulse code which is transmitted by short wave or over the common overhead carrier lines 32 to all receivers and is effective in energizing a gate or switch at only one of said receivers to pass the rest of the control message therefollowing to a storage means and/ or further control apparatus. A self-resetting relay at the input side of each carrier receiver is code operated or responsive to only one of a plurality of initial signals or specific pulse code so that the message therefollowing will be passed to only one carrier controller in the system. The remainder of the command message is then placed in relay storage or otherwise recorded and selectively read out in the order of its receipt to control and effect the motion of the carrier CA, the fork carriage 37 up and down track 34 thereof, the advancement of the forks 41, and fork retraction by controlling the operation of the motors Mx, My, Mz, driving said carrier, fixture and forks.

(b) Part of each control message is thus separated from the remainder of the message pulse train and is used to preset a controller for controlling the motion of the carrier along the track 22 by controlling the operation of the carrier drive motor in accordance with feedback signals generated as the carrier moves along the track which indicate the relative motion of the carrier.

(c) Another portion of the command message is used to preset a controller for controlling the motion of the vertically travelling carriage 37 whereby the forks thereof attain the height-position of a predetermined storage bay into which a pallet is to be stored or from which a pallet is to be removed.

(d) Still other parts of the command messages are used to preset or energize other automatic control devices which will be described for effecting automatic movement of the forks in removing or storing a pallet.

FIG. 2 shows part of a typical storage station in a system such as illustrated in part in FIG. 1 and also shows carrier CA and part of the storage racking. Pallets 26 of the product to be stored are moved along the conveyor 24 at a constant speed and are scanned by the photoelectric scanners SC located at each station which detect if each passing pallet contains a load which is destined for a particular bay of the storage racking in the aisle aligned with the scanner and actuate the ram transfer device RA which is effective in pushing the pallet 26 off conveyor 24 onto a brach chute 27 where it moves down a roller conveyor 27' to the end of the chute TS and awaits removal therefrom by the carrier CA. The chute 27 is designed so that when a first product unit 26 is removed by the forks of the carrier CA, if there is another pallet immediately behind it, it will slide, or otherwise be transferred into the position of the removed unit and will be thus positioned for removal by the forks of the carrier when it returns, such that said forks may be advanced under the pallet and lifted with said pallet retained thereon. The conveyor 27' may be a power operated belt conveyor interlocked in its operation to operate upon the removal of the endmost pallet therefrom by energizing a limit switch actuated when the pallet is removed from a pressure plate under the platform at the end of TS. When the endmost pallet is lifted, release of the load thereform is operative to actuate said limit switch for completing a circuit between the motor driving the conveyor 27' and a power supply to effect the prepositioning of the next pallet at the end of said conveyor.

The carrier CA is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 as comprising a track travelling carriage 30 having wheels 31 and driven by an electric motor MX for powered travel along overhead track 22 extending aparallel to the storage racking 23. Overhead power lines 32 extending parallel to the track 22 provide electrical energy for operating the servo motors of the carrier CA. Electrical coupling is attained by means of brushes 33 extending from the carriage 30 which sweep lines 32. A fixture 34 extends from and is rigidly secured to the carriage 30. A fixture 34 comprises a vertically extending assembly of two cylindrical structure members 35 and 36 which serve both as a support and a track for a second carriage 37 which is adapted to be driven from a position near the top of said vertical track to a lower position near the bottom thereof by a motor MZ. The motor MZ is secured underneath the overhead carriage 30 between the vertical members and 36 and drives the carriage 37 through a chain drive 38, 39. A pair of lift forks 41 project from a mount 42 outward from the carriage 37 and are movable thereon where they may project further therefrom a distance equal to at least the length of the forks. Fork mount 42 is mounted on a shaft 43 which is driven horizontally by a lineal motor MY.

An electrical coupling is provided between the carriage 37 and the remainder of the carrier by conventional means. The notation 47 refers to a housing in which a receiver and positional control components are mounted for providing control of the various carrier servos.

Other components associated with the carrier assembly include a photoelectric scanning device PH comprising a photoelectric cell 48, and a light source 48L positioned adjacent thereto to project a beam of light in the direction of the racking 23 which intersects reflective markers RF positioned on said racking which light beam is reflected back to the cell causing a pulse to be generated thereby which may be used as a feedback control means for indicating the motion of carriage 37 in its travel up and down 34. The housing indicated by the notation PH includes amplifying means for the cell 48 and means for generating and transmitting pulse signals to control means in 47 each time carriage 37 passes a storage bay location or position and a reflective marker.

A motor MR is shown mounted at the side of the carriage 30 and may be utilized to rotate the assembly below so that the forks 41 are accessible to both sides of the corridors and may service racks on either side as well as perform other functions. The track assembly 34 is secured to a large spur gear G1 which is rotationally movable below the carriage 30. A second gear G2 rotates G1 when driven by MR. Notation 52 refers to a slack loop of cable extending from the housing 47 for electrically connecting the control apparatus in 47 with the servos of the carrier assembly therebelow, An end plate joins 35 and 36 at the lower end.

The scanning photoelectric cell 48 and the reflective markers RF on the track or racking are so positioned that the forks 41 extending from carriage 47 will be positioned in alignment with a selected storage bay when controlled thereby. Motors MX and MZ, by operation of the scanning relay, will so position said forks that they may be driven forward thereafter and will clear the lower bar 23b of the racking and move under the pallet in the selected bay whereby it may be lifted and easily removed from said bay by further motion of the forks.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the storage racking and pallets 26. In FIG. 5 the racking comprises a boxlike assembly of vertical beams 23a joined with horizontal beams 23b and 230 to form cubicles. The rack design is such that an array of side-by-side and vertically tiered cubicles are formed with horizontal struts 23b provided on which may be rested the bottoms of pallets or boxlike product containers. In FIG. 5, a pallet 26 of conventional design rests in a cubicle with its skids 26a resting on a front strut 23b and a rear strut 23b. By automatically controlling the motion of the forks 41 of the carrier CA, the pallet 26 may be automatically placed in a bay for storage in the position illustrated or removed therefrom without the need for human direction or control. The notation 26b refers to the cross-slats comprising the floor of the pallet 26 which are secured to the skids 26a. Said skids 26a position the floor flats 26b above the level of the horizontal struts 23b so that the forks 41 may be moved under the pallet between the skids during the act of lifting said pallet. The notation 26c refers to sides or stops secured to the pallet skids 26a to prevent the load or work W from laterally sliding off said pallet. The notation 55 refers to a coded card secured to side slat 260 which is positioned thereon whereby it will be scanned by photoelectric scanning apparatus SC when said pallet is moving along the conveyor 24. The card 55 is removably secured in a frame 56 which is secured to the side slat 26c and contains marks or reflective spots 56 in the form of a code or codes which are effective in providing pulse signals, when scanned as said pallet moves along the conveyor 24 which codes may be utilized to identify the pallet for automatic removal from the conveyor and as a means for effecting the control of the motion of the carrier apparatus in the act of storing said pallet in a predetermined storage volume. An effective combination of elements for photoelectric reading of a digital code for this and other applications is to provide card 55 as a conventional punched card with holes therein replacing said card markings. A sheet of reflex reflective sheeting such as Scotch-Lite may then be placed behind said card. If a light source is provided adjacent to or behind the scanning photoelectric cells (S1, S2, S3, S4, etc.) of FIG. 7, then that surface of the reflex reflector which is exposed through the cutouts in said card wil reflect essentially a point or small patch of light back to the photoelectric scanning cell. A highly efiicient scanning method is thus provided. It is noted that said reflex reflector backing for 55 may be replaced by a sheet or coating of a material or paint of sufficiently different reflectivity than the ambient light in the system to permit said photocell to become energized whenever a cutout passes the scanning axis of said cell.

FIG. 6 shows a box or tote carrier TB for containing a product or material. Said box TB is shown resting on runners or skids 230 which are part of the racking 23 and which support the bottom of TB above racking horizontals 23b. The forks 41 of the carrier may thus be moved under TB and will clear said racking horizontals 23b. A coded card 55 is secured to the side of TB such that when the box is aligned on the in-flow conveyor 24, card 55 will be correctly scanned by the photoelectric scanning apparatus SC as it passes. In FIGS. and 6, the notation RF refers to reflective markers positioned on the structural members facing the aisle for energizing the photoelectric cell 48 of the carrier CA by reflecting light thereto as the carrier CA moves past. It is noted that runners similar to 23c may also be secured to the bottom of box TB to effect the same function as beams 230.

FIG. 7 shows details of a scanning station having a photoelectric scanning and detection means SC for scanning the coded markings CM on the code bearing card 55 which is secured to the side of a pallet or box TB. The card 55 is provided with one or more code bearing levels or lines SL each arranged with marks which provide, when scanned, a digital pulse code on the output of the scanner transmitter SCT for transmission to a conveyor positional control computer. The scanner SC performs two functions. It identifies the fixture or pallet TB according to the markings on 55 and, if TB is destined for a storage position in a bay situated in the corridor associated with said scanner, actuates a servo in the form of an air cylinder ram RA which operates to urge the palletized load TB just scanned off said conveyor 24, as it moves in alignment with said ram, whereby said pallet is transferred onto temporary storage ramp TS. The recordings or scanning lines SL are at different levels relative to, and may be scanned by, respective photoelectric cells each of which is positioned to scan a respective line of said recording or code. The codes may be arranged so that they may be indicative of which station or aisle the load 26 is to be discharged whereby the simultaneous scanning of two of said lines, having predetermined marks may be used to energize a relay and trigger the action of the ram RA when the pallet is in alignment with ram RA. In FIG. 7, two scanning photocells S1 and S4 are positioned to scan at the level of the first and fourth lines of the card. By providing a photoelectric control including an amplifier and relay in circuit with each level reading scanner, and adjusting said scanner to transmit a pulse over an output circuit each time said associated cell scans past a mark on 55 and connecting both output circuits to a logical AND circuit SCA, then an output pulse will be produced from SCA whenever both cells simultaneously scan a mark on their respective lines which pulse may be used to effect operation of the associated ram. The pulse output from SCA may be passed over two circuits SCL and SCL' to (a) a delay relay control RAR for actuating, at a time delay period thereafter, to effect operation of the ram RA for pushing TB off of 24 and (b) to a relay CR-l which is effective in completing a circuit between the output of the transmitter SCT and the input to a receiver-controller associated with the carrier CA adapted for effecting transfer of TB to the storage position indicated by said coded control message recorded on 55. The relay CR-1 may also be energized or actuated by part of the coded command message. Since the conveyor 24 is moving at a constant speed, the scanning rate of all coded cards 55 will be the same. Hence, the length of the marks and their spacing may be used to produce coded pulses or a digital code output and may be used to effect positional control of the carrier transfer apparatus CA. The notation 24' refers to a guide-bar positioned across 24 which is utilized to slide tote boxes or pallets across 24 closer to the scanner SC and align them relative to the scanner.

The position of the conveyor carrier and forks during the transfer of the palletized load 26 from the forks 41 to the outflow conveyor 25 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Such transfer is accomplished by lowering said forks while they are over the conveyor 25 and extend in the direction of said conveyor, such that the skids 26a of the pallet or tote box engage the conveyor and are carried thereby after said forks disengage from the bottom of the pallet as ilustrated. The control means for the carrier retains the forks in position until the pallet or skid-box TB clears the end of the forks as at TB whereafter the control operates to move the carrier away from conveyor 25.

In FIG. 8 the notation SWS refers to a normally closed limit switch mounted on fork carriage 37 and having a long actuator arm SWS shown in FIG. 3 which projects outwardly therefrom. The switch is provided as a means for preventing the carrier from engaging and crushing or pushing an object or palletized load off conveyor 25 as the carrier moves over the conveyor to asume the discharge position illustrated. A condition may arise whereby a palletized load will pass on the conveyor 25 just as a carrier approaches the same position to discharge a load thereto. The arm SWS projects outwardly from the carriage 34 to a position whereby it will become deflected if it strikes an object on the conveyor. Limit switch SWS is provided in circuit with the power line to motor MX which circuit it will break when its arm is deflected and will stop said motor when so actuated and while the arm is deflected until the load passes.

After the palletized load has passed, SWS returns to its normal position and a circuit is again completed between MX and a power source until the switch 49 is actuated when said carrier is over 25.

The letters SWS refer to a limit switch mounted on the side of 37 having a long toggle arm SWC' which may be used to indicate the position of the top of 25 relative to 37 and effect the stoppage of the motion of 37 down. ward by transmitting a pulse or breaking a circuit between MZ and a source of power when so actuated. The switch SWS may be used to replace one or more of the time delay relays of FIGS. 12 or 20 by serving to indicate just when the carriage 37 has been driven to the (Zo-l) position or level. This is described in more detail in the description of FIG. 20.

The following description of possible movement of the components of the conveying apparatus CA will first be described prior to describing a control sequence for storing a product. The motion of the carrier and forks will hereafter be referred to in terms of the following notations: X will refer to the direction of all movements parallel to the aisle C along which the carrier CA travels, Y will refer to motion in the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the track 22 or racking 23 such as the direction of motion of the forks 41 toward and away from the racking in the act of storing or removing a palletized or boxed product and Z will refer to all vertical motions such as that of the forks and subcarriage 37. A storage volume in the system may thus be specified and referred to by three reference numbers which conote the X, the Y and the Z location of said volume. For example, the fifth corridor (C) in the system would have a Y value of 5. A storage location in the racking located 25 cubicles from one end would have an X value of 25 and any vertical location thereof may be designated with a corresponding Z value. Thus, by numerically designating each unit volume or storage location with its corresponding X, Y and Z values any specific volume may be attained by automatic means provided that the correct positionindicating and feed-back as well as automatic controls are provided. Positional control is effected by indicating by means of a signal whenever the carrier CA passes a storage volume or position in the X direction and using this signal to control the motor driving CA along the track 22 in response to a command input. The same means may be employed to indicate and control the vertical motion of the forks 41 on the carrier guide. As stated such feedback may be provided by utilizing a photoelectric cell 48 mounted adjacent to the forks 41, to scan the racking and indicate by detection of reflective or other markings thereon whenever said forks pass a given storage position or volume. The photoelectric cell may thus be used to uncount a counting device preset by pulse signals from the mentioned transmitters and to effect stoppage of the motors MX and MZ whenever a preset count has been reached indicating that the forks are opposite a selected unit volume or storage bay.

Reference is made now to FIG. 1 to generally describe a cycle of movement of the conveying apparatus in the act of storing a load. Assuming that the carrier is stopped and that the forks 41 have been automatically driven to position Z :0 by the previous action, and that a sequential command message comprising a series of signals or train of pulses is transmited from the remote scanning apparatus SC over the power lines or via short wave to receiving apparatus mounted on the selected carrier, and said carrier contains means for storing and reading each command message received thereby. The control signals are thereafter reproduced and utilized to effect either the removal of a palletized product from a desired storage location or unit volume to said discharge conveyor 25 or the transfer of a palletized product from the temporary storage platform TS to a predetermined unit storage volume. In the act of storing, the following sequence of movements of the conveying apparatus may occur.

(a) From a position at XN with the forks at 2:0 the carriage motor MX starts and drives the carrier assembly to the X location illustrated as X0 whereupon the motor MX is automatically stopped with the forks 41 opposite and at the level of the pallet of the desired product on the discharge platform TS at a level to be engaged and picked up thereby. The forks 41 are then automatically driven from a retracted position Y0 to an advanced position Ya in which they clear but are under the pallet 26. The forks then are automatically driven to rise a distance sufficient to lift the pallet whereby the skids thereof clear the platform at the end of TS. The forks 41 are next automatically retracted from position Ya to Y0. The load is now ready to be transferred from X0, Z0 to the bay location predetermned by the code of the pallet.

(b) A signal from the positional control computer CO starts MX which drives the carrier towards the desired X location. Control is effected by the photoelectric cell 48 mounted at the level of the forks which is adapted to move up and down therewith and which scans the storage area and particularly the levels of the racking having indicating marks RE thereon. Thus a pulse is transmitted to the control computer CO each time a marker is passed by the apparatus. These pulses are used to uncount a preset counter which indicates when the apparatus CA is aligned with the X location of the selected bay in which it is desired to store the pallet. The counter thus effects stopping of the motor MX and also is effective in starting the motor MZ driving the forks to the height of the selected unit storage volume. The photocell scans and transmits feedback signal pulses to CO as it passes indicating markers in vertical alignment which are used for uncounting a preset counter which has been preset by the signals received by previous scanning. When the forks are stopped at the desired Z position an automatic control means energizes MY, after effecting the raising of the forks a Z distance high enough for the forks to clear the shelf or rack. The automatic control means is also effective in advancing the forks to the extended position and in lowering the forks a degree such that the pallet rests on the shelf or racking with the forks clearing the bottom of the pallet yet free to retract to clear the racking. The forks are then driven automatically to Z0 whereupon the carrier apparatus shuts off until it receives further command signals.

In the act of removing a palletized or boxed load from a selected storage location and transferring it to shipping conveyor 25 the following movements will be effected:

It is assumed that the carrier CA is stopped at any X position and that the forks 41 are at Z=0 by previous action. The sequential command computer CO mounted on the carrier has been set up as the result of the receipt of signals by carrier receiver in 47 transmitted from a remote transmitter which signals are effective in controlling the motion of the forks from their at-rest position to a desired storage volume and in removing the palletized load therefrom and in transferring said load to the end of the trackway whereupon it is automatically deposited onto the shipping conveyor 25. The entire control sequence is automatic and includes:

Control is effected of the motion of the carriage by controlling servo MX by means of a presettable counting means which is uncounted by feedback signals generated by the described carrier mounted photoelectric scanning apparatus PH for controlling the motion of the carrier as described to a position in alignment with the bay in which the desired product is located. When servo MX stops, servo MZ is started to drive the forks 91 to the desired Z location opposite the bottom of the bay in which the product is located. MZ stops and the forks advance into the selected bay to a position under and clearing the bottom of the pallet therein. The forks are then controlled to rise a sufficient distance to lift the pallet to clear the racking bottom or shelf after which motor MZ is topped and motor MY operated to retract said forks to clear the racking. The forks are then lowered to position Z0 at the bottom of fixture 34 and servo MX is started to drive the carrier assembly to a point over the shipping conveyor 25. The forks are then lowered to near position Z0 where the pallet skids 26a rest on the conveyor 25 and are carried thereby off the forks. The carrier, a delay period thereafter, is automatically driven to any desired homing position along its track.

It has been noted prior to this and illustrated in FIG. 6 that this system of automatic transfer may be applied to products or objects which are not pallet or skid mounted with some minor changes of the conveying equipment. In discharging a box (such as TB of FIG. 6 which does not have skids or runners on its bottom) from forks such as 41 in the act of transferring it to a conveyor such as 25 or a chute for gravity travel to another area, a pusher element of conventional design (such as lift truck pushers which extend and move over the forks for sliding a load thereon off said forks) may be employed to move such a load thereoff onto 25. The action of said pusher element would be automatically controlled and synchronized to occur at a time interval after the forks are lowered to the position illustrated in FIG. 8 just over, but not engaging the top surface of 25. Control is effected in FIG. 14 for example, by the provision of a delay line 2' to effect operation of the pusher P after the forks 41 have been lowered to the Zo-l position.

FIGS. 9 to 17 illustrate electrical control circuitry adapted for automatically effecting the described motions of the carrier CA and the forks in the act of either conveying a palletized load 26 from the temporary storage conveyor TS to any selected storage bay in the volume serviced by said carrier or in an act of removing a load already in a selected storage bay and then transferring it to a remote position such as unloading it onto the conveyor 25. In this system, control elements such as known logical AND, OR, NOT, TIME DELAY and flip-flop bistable elements are utilized. Logical static switching elements such as produced by Westinghouse Electric Company under the trade name Cypak may be utilized and it is assumed in the block and schematic diagrams provided that a sufficient source of electrical energy is provided on the correct side of all switches, relays, logical control elements and the like provided. Generally, unless otherwise indicated all current transmitting lines are assumed to comprise complete circuits so that the actuation or energizing of one of said components will result in a current or control pulse being transmitted to the other.

The following circuit and component identification is presented to simplify the description of the control means illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 17 for controlling the motion of the product carrier in the acts of storing or transferring from storage palletized loads:

MX-A reversible motor for driving carrier 30 along track 22 and having forward, reverse and stop controls referred to by notations F, R and S which are pulse actuatable.

MY-A reversible motor or power operated ram for projecting and retracting the forks 41 of the carrier having pulse operated forward and reverse controls P and R.

MZA reversible motor for driving the fork mounted carriage 37 in the vertical direction and having pulse actuated controls including a control U for effecting fork carriage movement upward, D for effecting downward movement of the forks and S which, when pulsed, stops the operation of the motor.

CR-Code or signal operated relays which control respective switching means such as rotary stepping switches or normally open switches to permit the passage of predetermined portions of the command message or code used to effect control of the carrier and fork servos to respective predetermining control circuits.

RE-A pulse actuated solenoid or relay which is operative upon receipt of a feedback pulse to step a rotary stepping switch to a new position.

STA predetermining controller such as a multi-circuit timer which becomes operative when its input is pulsed and provides a control sequence for controlling servo motors to move the load carrying forks in a path necessary to transfer the load or pallet contained thereon into a storage position or bay aligned with said forks and to lower said pallet a degree whereby it is resting in the storage position and to further effect control of the fork servos in retracting the empty forks from the storage position.

REMA predetermining controller which becomes operative when its input is pulsed and is effective in controlling servos MY and MZ to move the forks 41 in a path necessary to engage the pallet in alignment therewtih and to remove it from storage.

DISA pulse energized predetermining controller which is operative in controlling the servo motors to effect discharge or transfer of a pallet on the forks onto an unloading or outgoing conveyor immediately therebeneath.

PrCMxA pulse presettable, predetermining counter adapted for controlling the operation of servo motor MX. The counter is preset upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses derived from a portion of the command message gated thereto which pulses are indicative of the degree of travel of the carrier along its track which will preposition the forks in alignment with the tier of storage bays containing the bay into which the forks must move to store or remove a pallet therefrom. The counter is uncounted by feedback signals generated with increments of movement of the carrier along its track, said signals being derived by scanning position indicating markers on the racking or track or the actuation of a limit switch with incremental movement of the transfer carriage.

PrCMz-A pulse presettable counter which is preset and operative in a manner similar to PrCMX but is connected for controlling the operation of motor MZ for prepositioning the pallet holding forks at the desired height position prior to their further movement in either the act of removing a pallet from storage or placing one in storage.

SWEOA limit switch which becomes actuated when carriage 37 is driven to a position just above the lowermost position in its travel. This switch is of the over-ride type which is actuated once each time during the downward travel of the forks.

49, 49Limit switches mounted on the carriage 30 of the track travelling carrier CA each of which is adapted to become activated when the carrier is driven to a respective end of the track 22 and the actuator arms of each are deflected by pins 50 and 50' secured to and projecting from the track.

Switch 49, when actuated, is adapted to effect the transmission of a pulse to the top control of motor MX and to the energizing input of controller REM to effect the pick up of a load from the temporary storage platform TS over which pin 50 is located. Switch 49' when actuated, energizes control S of motor MX to stop the carrier over the outflow conveyor 25 and sequential controller DIS to effect discharge of the load or pallet on the forks to said conveyor. Both switches are of the over-ride type and generate a single pulse during movement past the pin in one direction.

FIG. 9 broadly illustrates means for controlling the carrier and the conveying apparatus described. Electrical transmission lines 32 are provided for the transmission of power and command message signals from a remotely located transmitter 60 and/or from the pallet card scanning transmitter SC. Input to transmitter 60 may be in the form of specific modulated signals or tones, or pulse codes such as a binary code or pulse trains derived from a manually operated dial switch PrS which is operated by a human dispatcher or a punch card operated reader or punch-to-code converter, from a tape scanner such as a photoelectric reader, or from a storage means or digital computer. The signals are transmitted over the lines 32 in groups of modulated signals or pulse trains. A particular message or pulse train may contain, for example, complete control signals in decimal or binary code, portions of which are not only capable of presetting the various predetermining sequential controllers to be described but are also effective in gating other portions of said message as respective trains of pulses to the various control components by the actuation of coded switching relays by other portions of each message preceding the portions to be gated. The block indicated by the notation DIS refers to a conventional dial operated multi-circuit switching or distribution system for distributing or switching or distribution systtem for distributing or multiplexing a particular command message to one of multiple of receives in said system each of which is adapted to effect control of the motion of a particular carrier servicing a particular storage aisle. The distribution system may be similar to that used in a conventional switching and connection telephone dial operated communication system or may comprise a multi-circuit selection switch operated to step the output of the transmiter 60 to one of said multiple receivers by manual or automatic setting. It is noted that, while FIG. 9 shows a transmission network consisting of wire conductors, these may be replaced by microwave or short wave sending and receiving apparatus thus eliminating all wires.

Assuming that a circuit is completed to a particular receiver 62 from either transmitter 60 or scanner transmitter SCT via transmission lines 61a or 61b and 32, a normally open coded relay operated switch CR-l is employed at the output of receiver 62 which relay may be responsive to the first part of the code message and is used, when energized thereby, to gate the remainder of the message to a further recording means associated with the particular carirer. If a coded relay is utilized, more than one receiver may be employed and operatively connected to the same transmission line. If the signal is generated and transmitted as a carrier signal, the lines 32 may be the described common power lines of the system. The coded relay CR-l becomes energized in response to a specific signal or pulse code and passes the remainder of the command message through a rotary stepping switch 63 to a multiple channel magnetic storage device 64 which comprises, in FIG. 9, a constant speed rotated magnetic storage drum. Such a storage device is provided at the receiving end of the control system to store each commandmessage passed through CR-1, which recorded message may be randomly or sequentially received while the conveying carrier CA is in use and under the control of a prior received control message. The receiver 62 and the other apparatus to be described, including the signal storage device 64, are preferably mounted in the described housing 47 which is secured to the overhead carriage 30, althouh said control apparatus may be mounted in a stationary position in the storage system and utilized to effect control by transmission over the multiple conducting lines 32 which are electrically connected to the various servocomponents.

Stepping switch 63 is controlled to switch the output of receiver 62 to one of a multiple of separate recording circuits by the operation of a solenoid which is energized by a pulse from a coded relay CR-2 which is connected to the output of 62 and which is energized by part of the code message passed to 63 through CR-l. The solenoid of CR4 is operative to step and switch the input from 62 to a particular output circuit of 63 prior to or after receipt thereby of a new coded message. The outputs 63 are each connected to respective magnetic recording heads RH referred to by the notations RH-l, RH2, RH-3, etc., each of which is operatively connected to the output of 62 and adapted to record on a single channel thereof during not more than one rotation of said drum. The drum is driven at a constant speed by a motor MD. The storage apparatus 64 may also consist of other types of pulse storage means such as magnetic storage matrices, digital or decade counters, or delay relays. Associated components of the magnetic storage unit 64 include (a) individual magnetic erase heads EH for selectively erasing each com mand message recorded on the magnetic surface of the drum after said message has been reproduced therefrom and utilized to effect control of the carrier servos so that the channel just reproduced from will be conditioned for recording another message thereon, (b) magnetic reproduction heads PU referred to by the notations PU1, PU2, etc., which are adapted to selectively reproduce each message in the order of recording. A stepping relay switch 67 is utilized to effect the erasure of signals from each channel after reproduction therefrom by gating a power supply PS to the erase head associated with the channel last reproduced from. Switch 67 is stepped by a solenoid RE-l which is energized by a signal transmitted thereto from the mentioned switch SWZO situated at the bottom of the vertical track of the carrier CA when said' switch becomes actuated as the carriage 37 is driven to its Z0 position. The switch SWZO is a multiple output, normally open, monostable, over-ride switch having an actuating arm positioned relative to 37 whereby, when closed by the downward travel of 37, it will transmit a pulse on the multiple circuits illustrated for effecting?- the following control functions. SWZO when actuated, energizes relay RE-l which steps the switch 67 to energize the next magnetic erase head for erasing signals on the channel just reproduced from. Another output of SWZO is pulsed when said switch is actuated to actuate a relay and close normally open relay switch RE-2 which is sloW to open and remains closed thereafter long enough to gate a power supply PS through 67 to said erase head to erase the entire channel during at least one complete revolution of the drum 65. The outputs of the multiple reproduction heads PU are connected to respective switch terminals of a rotary stepping switch 66 having a single output. The switch 66 is stepped to a new switching position by means of the same signal from limit switch SWZO which energizes relay RE-Z. The signal from SWZO is also passed to a solenoid operated relay RE-3 for stepping the switch 66 to the neXt position. The remaining pore tion of each control message which is reproduced is passed to the output 66' of 66 which extends to other control circuits which remaining message portion is used to preset or energize said circuits to provide a sequence of control functions to eventually effect a predetermined motion of the components of the conveying apparatus CA in the act of storing or removing from storage a pallet or object located in or destined for a predetermined storage bay by effecting control of the servo motors MX, MY, MZ, MR driving said carrier and components.

From the output of 66, the control message is passed to a multiple output gate 68 which is operative to pass respective parts of said message in the form of groups of pulses to respective control devices to preset or actuate the various control components illustrated. The gate or stepping switch 68 is a six position switch which is controlled to step and remain at each of four of the switching positions for time intervals during which a respective part of the signal is passed to a respective controller to preset or energize said controller. Stepping of 68 is effected by means of a coded relay CR-3 which is responsive to coded parts of the control message provided between control signal components of the message to be gated therethrough. The coded relay CR-3, each time it is actuated, energizes a solenoid which steps switch 68 one output position counterclockwise from a home or open position. The other outputs of 68, when switched, respectively connect its input with (a) an input 68-1 to a positional controller PRCMz for gating part of the control message thereto which preset said controller so that it may be used to control the degree of rotation of the servo motor MZ and thus effect positional control of the height of travel of the forks 41, (b) an input, 68-2 to a positional controller PRCMX which is effective in controlling the operation of motor MX and thus the degree of travel of carriage 30 along the track 22, (c) holding relay switch 69, such as a bistable or flip-flop switch, which gates a power supply PS to one input of a first logical AND control 73 which, when the other input to 73 is energized, effects operation of a sequential controller ST which controls the motion of the forks 41 from a position opposite the selected bay or storage volume into said volume in the act of storing or setting down a palletized load therein, (d) a circuit 68-4 to a holding relay switch 70 which is a bistable or flip-flop switch operative to gate a power supply PS to one input of a logical AND control 74 which, when another input thereto is energized,

effects the operation of a sequential controller REM to effect control of the fork driving servos to automatically move said forks in a predetermined path from a position opposite the selected storage volume into the storage bay in movement whereby they position under and engage a pallet therein and lift and retract to remove said pallet therefrom. The switches 69 and 70 may be bi-stable switching elements or circuits (unlimited TIME functions) of which a variety of electro mechanical or electronic flip-flop circuits are known. Part of the command message gated through either the 3 or 4 output circuit of switch 68 is passed to either 69 or 70 which is switched thereby to gate a prolonged signal from a power supply PS to one input of one of two logical AND circuits 73 or 74 which respectively control, when energized, the sequential switching action of respective controllers ST and REM to be described. The switched condition of switches 69 or 70 remains until the other input of said bi-stable switching circuits receive a pulse from SWZO at the end of the controlled cycle. Either 69 or 70 are selectively energized during each fork movement cycle to control the motion of the forks for storing or removing a pallet which action is dependent on the composition of the command message. The resulting inputs to switches 69 and 70 are both connected to be pulsed when switch SWZO is activated when the platform or forks 41 is driven to its lowermost position after storing or removing a load from the selected storage bay. The last part of the signal passed through gate 68 is passed to a coded relay or solenoid operated switch 71 which passes portions of the code signals to either a bi-stable switch 72 or directly to the reverse drive control R of servo MX. The relay or switching device 71 may comprise in a simple form a bi-stable electronic or electromechanical, solenoid actuated switch having a single signal input from 68 for the passage of a signal part of said command message over one of the two illustrated output circuits therefrom. If 68 is an electromechanical switch, it may be operated to attain a desired one of its two bi-stable output conditions by the use of two pulse energized solenoids each having an input from a separate output of 68 whereby said command message is designed to skip or step over one of the two respective outputs thereto and pass a pulse only to the other, thus energizing but one of the two solenoids and switching 71 to a desired one of its bi-stable states. This would require an additional switching position between the 5 and 6 positions of 68 with an additional circuit 71. If the particular command message includes means for effecting motion of the forks in the act of storing the pallet, it will be necessary to first effect motion of the carrier CA to the position which is adjacent the pallet receiving platform at station TS. The portion of the coded message passed to relay 71 may thus be adapted to actuate said coded relay 71 to gate a pulse signal directly to the reverse control R of motor MX.

If the particular coded signal is to be utilized to effect control of the carrier apparatus CA in the act of removing a palletized load from a predetermined storage bay, the degree of movement of the carrier 30 along track 22 will depend on its at-rest or homing position. After the output of 68 is stepped to the last switching position, it is further stepped by the last part of the command control message to the 0 or open switch position at which it is in a reset condition.

The positional controllers PrCMx, PrCMz are pulse presettable predetermining counters, while controllers ST, REM and DIS are predetermining controllers such as multi-circuit timers having programmed in each, a control sequence for respectively effecting movement of the forks in the acts of storing a load, removing one from storage or transferring it to the discharge conveyor. Controllers PrC are preset by portions of the command message gated to each and uncount to effect motor control upon receipt of feedback signals generated by the photo- 18 electric scanner 4-8 as it moves past reflective markers on the track or racking. Feedback signals may also be generated by a limit switch on the shaft of the various servo motors or by means of a limit switch having a switch arm which projects from the end of a fork and becomes actuated when the fork passes projections or vertical or horizontal bars of the storage racking.

In FIG. 9, the scanning photoelectric relay PH mounted on carriage 37 provides a feedback control signal which is gated to the positional control means PrCMx each time said carrier passes and the photoelectric cell 48 scans a reflective marker RF on the racking 23. Control of the motor MX may be effected when PrCMx either counts or attains condition present therein or predetermined by that part of the command message which has been transmitted thereto, by the transmission of a pulse on one or more output circuits of PrCMx when said uncount is reached. Upon attaining said uncount condition, a first pulse is tranmitted from PrCMx to the stop control of the motor MX thereby stopping and positioning forks in alignment with the desired bay. Controller PrCMx upon uncounting, is also effective in generating and transmitting a control pulse to the starting control U of MZ which drives carriage 37 up the track 34 of the carrier from the Z0 position. PrCMx also simultaneously generates a pulse on another of its outputs which is used to actuate a solenoid operated flip-flop switch 75 which gates the output of PH from the circuit extending to the input of PrCMx to a circuit extending to the feedback input of controller PrCMz. As a result, all feedback pulses generated by scanner photoelectric cell 48 are utilized to control the travel of the carriage 37 both in the X and Z directions. When PrCMz has attained its preset condition and has uncounted, it simultaneously transmits control signals or pulses over a plurality of circuits as follows. A first pulse is transmitted to the stop control S of motor MX Which results in said motor stopping with the forks 41 aligned with the selected storage bay, so movement of the forks towards the racking when servo MY operates will cause said forks to just clear the crossbar 23b at the bottom of the selected storage bay and also clear the floor boards 26b of the pallet. A reproduction of said pulse is also transmitted to reset the flip-flop switch 75 so that during the next controlcycle it will pass signals to the controller PrCMx. A further reproduction of said pulse is also transmitted from PrCMz to the AND control switch 73 of controller ST and a further reproduction of the pulse is transmitted to the AND control element 74 of controller REM. It has been previously noted that the original control message contained a signal component which was operative to effect the gating of a pulse through 68 to either switch 69 or switch 70 and thereby completed a circuit between a power supply and either the AND control element 73 or the AND controller 74. Thus either 73 or 74 will become energized and produce an output upon receipt of the pulse from PrCMz depending on which of the control switches 69 or 70 were energized as the result of the portion of the command massage passed to either through 68. Thus, energization of either 73 or 74 results in cycle operation of their respective controllers ST or REM. Sequential, multi-circuit timer ST effects, by controlling the operation of motors MY and MZ, the motion of the forks 41 necessary to deposit a load or pallet in the bay or onto the racking in alignment with said forks. Controller REM effects by controlling the operation of motors MY and MZ, motion of the forks in a path for removing a pallet already positioned on the racking in the bay in alignment with said forks. The control ST includes means energizing the D control of MZ after the forks 41 are retracted out of the bay and clear the racking. This results in the carriage 37 being driven to the Z0 position which, when it is reached, results in actuation of the switch SWZo which stops MZ.

In order to complete the cycle of removing a load from a predetermined storage bay, the forks with the load thereon are next conveyed to a position over the out-flow conveyor 25 and are further positioned to effect the removal and deposition of the pallet or the load onto said conveyor as illustrated in FIG. 8. A pulse or signal from sequential controller REM is generated when SWZo becomes actuated and is transmitted therefrom to energize the F control of MX thereby starting said motor and causing the carrier to be driven along the track 22 to a position over the conveyor 25. A projecting element or switch actuator 50 extends from track 22 and is positioned whereby it will actuate a limit switch 49' on the carrier which transmits a control pulse over two circuits, one of which is used to effect stoppage of the motor MX and the second to start the motor MZ to drive carriage 37 downward to the Z-1 position whereby the pallet runners 26a or skids of the tote box engage the conveyor 25 while the forks 41 clear the bottom of said pallet. Thereafter the palletized load 26 is carried by the moving conveyor while the control DIS causes the servos to remain stopped for a period of time necessary for the pallet to move and clear the ends of the forks as indicated in FIG. 8. A delay period after arriving at the Zo-l position after which said pallet is clear of the end of the forks, the controller DIS operates to effect movement of the carrier CA away from over the conveyor 25 so that it will not interfere with other pallets traveling on the conveyor. If there happens to be a palletized load or other object adjacent on in the path of the forks on the conveyor 25 as said carrier approaches, limit switch SWS mounted on 37 and having a switching arm projecting laterally therefrom becomes actuated when said arm strikes said load and is immediately effective in temporarily stopping the motor MX and in stopping the motion of the carrier so that 37 and/or the forks will not strike said load and deflect it off the conveyor. When the load passes and the switch arm of SWS returns to a neutral position, said switch opens resulting in starting motor MX for continuing the discharge action.

A complete control cycle operative for effecting the transfer of a palletized load from its temporary storage position on platform TS to a predetermined storage bay in the racking serviced by the carrier CA may be described as follows. Part of the command message is transmitted to the switching input 71' of a coded relay 71 through multiple output stepping gate 68. Switch 71 is a bi-stable switch which is operative to pass the next part of the message code over one of two output circuits depending on the signal or signals passed through 68 to said switching input 71' thereof. Switch 71 may be a pulse-solenoid actuated three position electro-mechanical switch. If the control message is operative to effect storage function, the signal input 71 is gated to the reverse drive control R of motor MX causing MX to effect movement of the carriage 30 towards the platform TS. A pin projecting from track 22 is adapted to actuate limit switch 49 projecting from carriage 30, which action results in stopping motor MX with the forks 41 in alignment with the position of platform TS and in a position adjacent the foremost pallet thereon such that projection of the forks by operation of motor MY will position them under the pallet for lifting off said platform. Switch 49 is a double pole, center neutral, normally open switch which when actuated transmits a pulse over two circuits including a circuit for energizing the stop control S of MX and another for energizing the sequential controller REM which effects automatic control of movement of the forks 41 in a path for removing the pallet from the temporary storage platform. After the load has been lifted from its at-rest position on platform TS and the forks retracted under the action of controller REM, a pulse is transmitted from REM to the forward start control P of motor MX for driving the carrier CA along the track 22 toward the X location of the bay or storage volume in which it is desired to store the load. As the carrier passes each bay position, the photocell 48 scans markers RF and transmits a pulse to PrCMx each time a marker is scanned. When PrCMx indicates that the position programmed therein has been attained by carriage 30, a pulse is transmitted therefrom to the stop control S of motor MX and a second pulse is transmitted to control U of motor MZ. Motor MZ operates to raise carriage 37. Pulses transmitted from PH as 48 scans the reflective markers in its vertical path as the carriage 37 moves upward, are utilized to uncount controller PrCMz and are an indication of the degree of upward motion of 37. The positional controller Pr'CMz, upon uncounting, transmits a pulse to stop control S of motor MZ stopping carriage 37 in its upward travel at the desired height. Upon attaining this position controller PrCMz also transmits a signal to the input of logical AND circuit 73, the other input of which has already been energized as the result of the prior energizing of gate 69, when both inputs to the AND circuit become energized, the output thereof, a generated pulse, is passed to sequential controller ST which is operative to control servos MY and MZ to effect the motion of the forks in the act of positioning the pallet retained on said forks onto the racking storage position immediately adjacent and in front of said forks. Controller ST generates a final control signal after the forks 41 have retracted from the bay position empty, which signal is transmitted to control D of motor MZ causing the carriage 37 to be driven to the bottom of its track or Z0 level at which it is stopped by the action of limit switch SWZc. The last pulse from ST is also transmitted over a second circuit to servo relay RE-3 for stepping the output of switch 66 to the next position whereby the next coded command message reproduced from may be passed to output circuit 66' and used to preset the various control elements described for the next control cycle.

FIG. 9 illustrates further details of parts of the circuit of FIG. 9 associated with the recording and reproduction of message signals and includes further means for sequentially recording and reproducing said control messages from the recording drum. Since each message is recorded on drum 65 as it is received, the various messages recorded on 65 will not start at the same angular position of said drum but will initiate at random positions. Message read-out, synchronizing reproduction first of the beginning of said message prior to gating it to the further control circuits of FIG. 9, may be eflected as follows. The first part of each command message, as transmitted from 60 to the receiver 62, contains a first portion to which the coded relay CR-l is responsive which effects the energizing and closing of relay CR-l which remains closed for a time interval to permit the entire message to be passed through switch 63 and the connected output therefrom extending to the recording transducer RH of the recording track of drum 65 in circuit with the input 63. The end of the message may contain a pulse code or signal for actuating coded relay 'CR-2 which actuates the servo driving switch 63 one position to cause the output of 63 to step to the next position when CR-l automatically resets at a time interval sufficient to permit the longest expected command message to be passed to 63.

The output of 62 of receiver 62 is connected to coded relay switch CR-l and the first part of said output energizes a coded relay CR'-1 which, if responsive thereto, passes a pulse to the input of a time delay relay 9-1 and an input of a flip flop switch 9-2 which passes a DC gating voltage to a mono-stable, normally open electron tube gate 9-3 thereby gating the remainder of the signal output from 62 to the input of 63. Delay means 9-1 operates at a time interval necessary to permit the longest command message to be passed through gate 9-3 to the input to switch 63 for an interval not greater than the time it takes drum 65 to make one revolution after which interval delay element 9-1 operates to switch the bi-stable flip-flop 9-2 to de-energize the switching input to 9-3 permitting said gate to open. A reproduction of the output of delay relay 9-1 is also used to actuate a solenoid 9-4 to step switch 63 to its next position.

In order to reproduce each command message recorded on magnetic drum 65 in its proper sequence (i.e. with the first portion of the message first reproduced and gated through 68) the beginning of said recorded message preferably contains a start signal which is different from the signals which follow such as of a time duration longer than any of the other pulse signals of the message. A relay circuit 'CR9-1 is provided operatively connected to the output of 66 and is responsive only to said long signal and when energized thereby effects the gating of the rest of the message to 68. Thus CR9-1 is effective to permit the reproduced command message to be passed to 68 in its proper sequence. CR9-1 comprises a delay element or relay 9-6 and a logical AND circuit 9-7 arranged so that a signal is generated on the output of 9-7 only after receipt of said reproduced longer duration start-of-message signal.

The output of AND circuit 9-7 is passed to a flip-flop circuit 9-9 which gates a signal to a coincidence detector or electronic gate 9-10 for closing said gate. The reproduced message following said start signal is thus passed to the input of stepping switch 68.

Each section of the command message or group of pulses which are to be transmitted to a respective control circuit such as PrMCz or PrCMx is separated by a synchronizing signal or pulse of longer time duration than any pulse in said section but shorter than said first mentioned lead signal. The synchronizing signal provided between pulse trains is passed to a delay relay 9-14 and a logical AND circuit 9-15 causing a control signal to be generated on the output of the latter which cannot be generated by other signal components of the message. Said signal generated at the output of 9-15 is passed to a solenoid 9-16 which is operative to step switch 68 to the next position.

In order to effect erasure of the signal just reproduced from 65 so that the recording track may be conditioned for the recording of another command message received after its reproduction, the output of delay means 9-8 may be passed to the relays RE-l and RE-2. In FIG. 9' the output of delay element 9-8 is passed to a further delay element 9-11 and also simultaneously to an input to a flip-flop circuit 9-12 which thereafter gates a signal to a coincidence detector 9-13. The duration during which the delay means 9-11 generates an output signal is equal to at least the time it takes for drum 65 to make one revolution so that the output from 9-12r is generated long enough to gate a power supply PS through gate 9-13 and through switch 67 to the connected magnetic erase head EH for a period of time to completely erase all signals from the channel or track of said head (i.e. the channel from which said signal was just reproduced). The pulse output of 9-11 is passed to switch 9-12 to open and is also passed to the relay RE-l. RE-l comprises a solenoid 9-6 which steps the output of 67 to the next position upon receipt of said pulse through a ratchet and pawl drive 67-RP driven thereby. Said next switching position of 67 provides a circuit between the erase signal PS and the erase head riding on the next recording channel to be reproduced from when 9-13 next receives its gating signal from 9-12.

FIGS. 10 to 16 show further and more detailed aspects of the control means illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 illustrates one form of a sequential controller such as ST which effects, when energized by a pulse on its input, movement of the forks 41 in a path necessary to deposit a palletized load or tote box carried thereon from a position opposite a selected storage bay or rack position to a position where said pallet rests on the crossbars 23b of said racking. In the same control action, ST also effects the removal of said forks to a position clearing said racking. Fork movement is illustrated in FIG. 11 and comprises a first motion thereof to about an inch above the Zn position to position 211-1. The control is next effective to cause inward motion of the forks to position the load thereon over the crossbars 23b and thereafter to effect the lowering of the forks to a degree such that the skids 26a of the pallet rest on the crossbars 23b with the forks dropping further to disengage and clear the bottom of the pallet. Final controlled movement comprises the retraction of the forks along path Y whereby the ends of said forks clear the front of the racking and said forks may be lowered to the Z0 position.

-In its simplest form, ST is a multi-circuit timer adapted when energized, to start and stop motors MY and MZ in a sequence to effect the above described motion. The multi-circuit timer ST may comprise a series of cams on a shaft driven by a servo motor which actuate and close at predetermined time intervals, normally open switches in circuit with the starting forward and reverse drive controls of MX and MY. In FIG. 10, controller ST comprises a series of limited time-elements or delay lines having notations 1 to 6 which are simultaneously energized and transmit at respective intervals thereafter and in a predetermined sequence, pulses to energize the starting and stop controls of MY and M2. The notation 76 refers to a single input transformer adapted when energized by a pulse from the AND switching element 73 to transmit pulses simultaneously to the multiple delay relays 1 to 7. A pulse is also transmitted from 76 directly to the control U of MZ. At a time interval thereafter sufficient to permit MZ to raise the carriage 37 and the forks the brief distance (Z-l-l), a pulse is transmitted from delay line 1 to S of MZ stopping the upward travel of said carriage at (Zn-l-l). The' delay element next transmits a pulse to control F of MY causing the forks to be driven forward into the storage bay they are aligned with. A limit switch 77 energized by a pin 78 on the shaft of motor MY may be used to stop MY with the forks extended by transmitting a pulse to the stop control S of MY. After this occurs, the delay relay 3 transmits a pulse to control D of MZ causing the carriage and forks to be driven down ward. Before the forks 41 touch the horizontal crossbars 23b of the racking, the delay relay 4 transmits a pulse to control S of MZ stopping said motor. A pulse thereafter from delay relay 5 transmitted to the control R of MY effects withdrawal of said forks and the limit switch 77, a double throw over-ride toggle switch, becomes energized by the motion of the fork in reverse as it strikes pin 78 and transmits a second pulse to control S of MY stopping the reverse travel of said forks. The delay relay 6 then transmits a pulse to D of MZ causing the carriage 37 to be driven to the Z0 position. When it reaches said position, the switch SWZo becomes energized by the motion of the carriage 37 and transmits a pulse to control S of MZ and to AND switch 79. If a pulse is produced on the output 79, it is transmitted to the solenoid RE-3 which performs the mentioned function of stepping 66 to the next output to pass the next recorded command message to the control components illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 illustrates details of the positional controller REM which effects the control of the motors MY and MX in a manner to move the forks 41 in a path from a position aligned with and near the bottom of a storage bay such as to place said forks under the pallet or load stored therein. Further operation of REM is effective in lifting the pallet from the surface on which it rests and in moving the forks to clear said storage racking. A transformer 76, when its input is energized by a pulse from either switch 49 to AND element 74, transmits simultaneously to a plurality of pulse delay elements or delay relays numbered 1 to 6. The notation 108 refers to a logical switching OR element at the output of switch 49 and AND element 74. The output of 108 is passed to 76. It is noted that the movement effected by controller REM may be required either when the carrier CA is adjacent 

